On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

“You’ve seen Zheng Jiao’s military report too. The various tribes in the northern desert are gathering, but they’re not yet fully coordinated. This is our opportunity! We must get ahead of them and disrupt their plans! I’ve already ordered reinforcements to the northern frontier, but it’s not just about defense!” Her fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping Lin Zhen’s collar. “We must take the initiative! Send elite cavalry deep into the northern desert, harass their supply lines, burn their pastures, and strike their small units. We must keep Uwei in constant turmoil, preventing him from preparing for war in peace!”

A gleam of admiration flashed in Lin Zhen's eyes. He lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, praising her:

"Yan'er is wise! This is the best strategy! By attacking instead of defending, we can draw the flames of war to enemy territory. This will not only train our troops and gather intelligence on the enemy, but also deplete the strength of the Northern Desert to the greatest extent and damage their morale. When they are exhausted, I will gather my main force and deliver a fatal blow!" His analysis coincided with Murong Yan's thoughts.

“However…” Murong Yan’s brows furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of worry, “venturing deep into the northern desert is extremely risky. The commander must be both intelligent and brave, bold yet meticulous, and above all, absolutely loyal and reliable…”

"Leave this to me." Lin Zhen gripped her hand tightly, his tone resolute. "I will personally select the generals and formulate a detailed strategy. As for the candidates, there are several young generals who are capable of undertaking this important task, possessing both vigor and composure. Tomorrow I will summon them to the palace to make detailed arrangements."

Hearing his words, Murong Yan felt greatly relieved. She relaxed again, leaned back into his arms, and let out a soft sigh, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"With my husband here, I feel at ease." She closed her eyes, savoring this rare peace and reliance, and murmured, "It's just... that you'll have to work hard again."

"For you, for this great Qian Dynasty, what hardship is there to speak of?" Lin Zhen chuckled, tightening his arms around her and pulling her into his embrace. "You only need to sit in the central government, stabilize the court, and strategize. Leave the fighting on the front lines to me and the soldiers."

The hall was quiet for a moment, with only the wafting incense and the sound of each other's breathing.

Murong Yan seemed to be immersed in this moment of tenderness. After a while, she seemed to think of something and moved slightly, wanting to change to a more comfortable position.

Just as she slightly turned her body, adjusted her posture, and brought her face closer to Lin Zhen's neck, as if trying to draw more warmth and strength—

The movements were imbued with complete trust, reliance, and a naturalness born from letting down one's guard!

The long, dark gold Suzhou brocade trailing over the phoenix chair, the footstool, and intertwined with Lin Zhen's robes, stretching for five zhang in a messy, flowing manner, was subtly stirred by this delicate, tender movement!

The outermost hem of her skirt billowed up, brushing against Lin Zhen's boots and smooth trousers.

As the train gently billowed up, it revealed the "Golden Floor" lining, intricately woven with gold threads, which shimmered with a warm and resolute light like moonlight under the soft, warm light of the bedchamber!

The phoenix pattern covering the entire nightgown and its train instantly burst forth with a golden light that was both harmonious and powerful, interwoven with iron-willed determination and tender affection!

That light was filled with complete trust in one's beloved, unwavering commitment to one's responsibilities to the country, and a sense of peace and happiness in entrusting one's most tender side to the one one trusts most. It was noble and magnificent, and at this moment it contained a profound love that transcended power and returned to one's true self, as well as the boundless power to fight side by side!

The hem of her skirt fell, obscuring the dazzling golden light that symbolized trust and reliance.

Murong Yan found the most comfortable position in Lin Zhen's arms and sighed contentedly, as if all her fatigue and pressure had been relieved in this warm and solid embrace.

She said softly, her tone firm: "Very well, I will wait in Chang'an for my husband and the soldiers' good news."

......

The night was as dark as ink, and a biting wind swept through the quiet streets and alleys of Chang'an, stirring up the unmelted snow on the ground.

Two dim lanterns flickered in the wind in front of the Regent's Palace, their yellowish glow illuminating the tightly closed vermilion gate and the armored guards standing solemnly before it, adding to the somber atmosphere.

A plain carriage without any insignia, escorted by several guards in black, quietly drove to the side gate of the Prince's Mansion.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Lin Zhen, dressed in a black casual robe and a dark cloak, nimbly jumped down from the carriage. There was a hint of fatigue between his brows, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, shining brightly in the night.

He didn't disturb many people. He simply nodded slightly to the chief steward of the Prince's mansion who came to greet him, and then walked straight through several courtyards towards the brightly lit, independent courtyard deep inside the mansion.

The old plum tree in the courtyard exudes a subtle fragrance in the cold night.

Inside the study in the main room of the courtyard, candlelight shone brightly and charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill of the winter night.

The old regent, Lin Zhenxian, was not asleep. He was wearing a slightly worn dark blue robe with floral patterns and a fox fur vest. He was sitting on a heated couch by the window, carefully examining a huge map of the northern frontier and western desert regions spread out on the low table in front of him by the bright candlelight.

The diagram is covered with dense symbols and annotations in cinnabar and ink, clearly indicating that it has been studied repeatedly.

Hearing the familiar footsteps outside the door, he didn't look up, but simply said in a deep voice, "Come in."

Lin Zhen pushed open the door, bringing in a gust of cold air. He gently closed the door behind him to block out the cold wind before walking to the heated bed and respectfully bowing: "Grandson greets Grandfather."

Lin Zhenxian then raised his head, put down the magnifying glass in his hand, and looked at his grandson, taking in his slightly travel-worn but energetic appearance. His gray eyebrows twitched, and he pointed to the seat opposite the couch:

"Please sit down. Has everything been decided in the palace?"

His voice was loud and clear, carrying the composure that comes with experience.

"Yes, Grandpa." Lin Zhen sat down opposite his grandfather, and an old servant who had been standing in the corner immediately served him hot tea and then quietly withdrew.

Lin Zhen picked up the teacup to warm his hands, but did not drink it immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to the map on the table, his expression solemn.

"The debate at court was heated, with both sides holding their own opinions on peace and war. But Yan'er... His Majesty has made a decisive decision: the war in the northern desert is inevitable, and we must take the initiative and not wait for Uvi to be ready."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhenxian showed no surprise; instead, a glint of admiration flashed in his eyes. He stroked his long beard and snorted.

"This girl from the Murong family, at crucial moments, does show some of the decisiveness her grandfather displayed back then! Indecisiveness will only lead to missed opportunities! Talking about morality and righteousness with that old wolf Uvi is like casting pearls before swine! Tell me, how did His Majesty plan to deploy his forces?"

He was more concerned with specific strategies.

Lin Zhen leaned forward slightly, pointing with his finger to the approximate location of Longcheng, the royal capital of the Northern Desert Kingdom, on the map, his tone clear and swift:

"By His Majesty's decree, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue shall immediately procure provisions and military equipment, and secretly dispatch 100,000 elite troops from the capital region and the Central Plains to reinforce the northern frontier in batches, all under the command of General Zheng Jiao, the General Who Guards the North. All military garrisons in the northern frontier shall enter a state of first-level combat readiness from this day forward. However, His Majesty's intention is by no means to hold out for reinforcements."

His finger traced several hidden routes marked on the map.